By OUR CORRESPONDENT
Tusker FC’s new goalkeeper, Joseph ‘Spiderman’ Ochuka, is eager to follow in the illustrious footsteps of the club’s past legendary keepers and cement his own legacy in the club’s history.
Ochuka, who joined Tusker FC from Bandari, has long admired the talents of previous Tusker goalkeepers, including current goalkeeper coach Duncan Ochieng. He cites the likes of Boni Oluoch, Wilson Oburu, and Patrick Matasi as his inspirations.
“When I started my career, Tusker FC boasted some of the finest goalkeepers in the country, such as Boni Oluoch, Wilson Oburu, Dunco Ochieng, Victor Onyango, and more recently, Patrick Matasi and Brian Bwire. This club has always had top-notch goalkeepers,” Ochuka reflects.
He continues, “It’s a significant challenge for me to emulate their success. My primary goal here is to win trophies and earn personal accolades while establishing myself as one of the club’s historic keepers.”
Ochuka, who has previously played for KCB FC and Kariobangi Sharks, expresses his gratitude for the warm reception he has received since joining Tusker FC. He feels well-integrated into the team and has noticed considerable improvement in his performance during training.
“The experience has been excellent so far. Settling in has been smooth because many of the players are personal friends, so I haven’t felt like an outsider,” Ochuka shares. “I’ve learned a great deal and made significant progress, thanks to the coaching staff and the high training tempo.”
His current challenge is to secure a regular starting position, competing with Brian Opondo and Edwin Simiyu, who have been with the team for the past season. Ochuka welcomes this healthy competition, believing it pushes everyone to excel.
“Both Brian and Edwin are exceptional goalkeepers. Having three top keepers in the squad ensures a competitive environment. We motivate each other in training, and whoever gets the chance to start knows they must perform at their best because the others are ready to step in,” he explains.
Looking ahead, Ochuka has set ambitious targets for the season, drawing from his impressive performance last season where he kept 12 clean sheets with Bandari.
“This season, my goal is to surpass that number. If given the opportunity to play, I aim to keep at least 10 clean sheets in the first half of the season,” Ochuka, nicknamed ‘Spiderman,’ concludes.
